MF Exclusive: Evolution of the R55 Clubman

Sections: R55 (Clubman) Feb 24th, 2009 26 Comments

Awhile back we had a chance to sit in on a presentation by Clubman designer (and head of MINI exterior design) Marcus Syring. Mr. Syring shared with us a brief history of the R55 and crucially some photos and renderings of the design process that brought about the modern Clubman.

The original concept of a reborn Traveller (eventually to be known as the Clubman) started way back in the late 1990′s. In fact the first time the sketches surfaced was at the Paris Motor Show along with a speedster and small truck concept. But it was the extended MINI “EXT” (as it was known internally) that seemed to hold the most promise for eventual production.

The idea was simple. A stretched MINI with more versatility and more access. Originally there were three concepts for the car based on the R50 chassis and design. Seen above (exclusively for the first time in public) we can start to understand the iterative process that eventually produced the R55. The first concept on the left is essentially what we see today on the road (except for the R50 styling cues). On the right we see a much more radical fast-back approach that used the a standard design hatch and would have sacrificed storage room for a sleeker silhouette. It’s almost voluptuous compared to the eventually R55. Finally in the middle of the photos above and below we see an approach that combined the curved of the 3rd concept with the boxiness of the MINI coupe.

The photos above show that MINI was also playing with the idea of dual rear doors on the Clubman. Clearly also seen here is a sliding window on the left side. We’re guessing that was a causality of cost cutting and/or production and rigidity issues. Also in the clay mock-up below is an L-shaped door that would have allowed for greater access into the rear of the cabin. Another interesting idea likely shelved due to cost and engineering issues.

You can get a full look at the different iterations in the photos gallery below.

In our mind there’s little question that MINI made the right decisions in terms of overall design. A lot has been made by MINI that the R55 was conceived in the studio and received little input by focus group (despite having a handful) and the like. And it’s this iterative design process that is so interesting and so clearly seen in the sketches and renderings above. It’s fascinating to see an inside peak into what MINI was planning for this car.

Written By: Gabe

C4

Those sketches, especially #1, #3 & #4 (Top to bottom) look decidedly better than the finished product. But then again those were renderings based on the R53, not the R56.

Still love my Clubman.
JonPD

Still have much love for the Clubman, it took a while for the flat back-end to really catch on with my eye but think its a very cool car indeed. Would take a Dooper version of this in a moment.
Sideways

@C4 and they were based off of the R53…so they are gonna be different proportions.

I love the sketch for the MINI pick-up…could this be the R51 or R52?
Ron

I’d never seen that roadster sketch before. Wow. Wish they’d made that instead of the Clubman.

MINI roadster! MINI roadster! MINI roadster!

It’d be neat if they made two roadster variations. One that was traditional, and one that had something unique: not a back seat, but a back floor or shelf with something you could lock a pet harness into. I’d love to be able to get a roadster again that had just a little something behind the seat for my dog. I think the Mercedes SL has something like this…
CraigE

I love the sketch for the MINI pick-upâ€¦could this be the R51 or R52?

The R52 is the convertible.
DUDE!

Thanks for the look see into their R&D.

Although I’m not a fan of the double doors it wouldn’t stop me from buying a Clubman but I will say I think the hatch would have been much better and more cost effective as they already had it in place.

Wonder where my FaceBook stuff went?
Chad

For practical reasons I would have preferred a split wagon style door in the back, but I admit that the aesthetic of the double doors, along with the contrasting pillars, does succeed in making it something other than a LWB Cooper. But gosh, it would have been nice to drop the tailgate so you can use the flat floor to carry something long.
Bob

Very interesting! I’m not sure how it would have carried over to the R56, but I wish they had sacrificed the legacy Clubman cues and gone with the sloped rear design. Style over utility and uniqueness, but I’ve always liked that Audi has taken that direction with the Avant rear quarter styling.
Evan

Everytime I see a Clubman in the street my heart beats a little faster. It wears the R56′s pedestrian impact proportions so well. Plus it remains very compact and unique. Okay. Maybe I should just go get a Clubman. But I can’t decide about crazy MPG (Cooper) or crazy acceleration (Cooper S)….

Thanks for the R&D images!
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

@DUDE!: You need to login.
Hal

MINI Clubman: the most hideous looking car in the world
C4

@Evan:

Evan, go with the S. You can have solid acceleration and fuel efficiency go hand in hand.

The 118HP engine in the standard Clubman Cooper is a little overtaxed given the added weight penalty of the style.
C4

Mr. Syring also owns a classic Mini.
DUDE!

Gabe, if that means going to the Facebook website to do that I can’t get in as I didn’t write down the Yahoo address I used since they don’t accept Earthlink. I sent them tons of emails with no response.

Using the new Safari/4 beta, it’s very fast.
alpinamike

I would love to also see the roadster, two seater MINI with a hard top convertible…
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Gabe, if that means going to the Facebook website to do that I canâ€™t get in as I didnâ€™t write down the Yahoo address I used since they donâ€™t accept Earthlink.

All you have to do is click on the login button on MF and login.
Pingback: Josh’s Blog » Blog Archive » Evolution of the R55 Clubman
http://www.blokspeed.net Eelke

Very nice look into the evolution. And glad they ended up where they are :) It’s a very nice hat-tip to the classic Travelers and Countrymans (Countrymen..??)

Personally, I am glad they did go for a distinctive rear-end. The first picture is just hideous, a normal Mini with some inches added to the middle. The added length needs to come both from the wheelbase and the rear overhang, as the finished product demonstrates.

The barn doors may be not as practical as a rear door setup might be, but they sure as heck are really charming. And they are certainly not unpractical.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1087159099 Bob Hayhurst

…I Love these drawings and the change and innovation they represent; I know they’re just ideas but I like em…
CooperS33

I like the current R55 quite a bit. However a R50/R53 based clubman with barn doors would have been awesome. Thanks Gabe, Its really neat to get a behind the scenes look at the early designs.
Robert

Sign me up for the speedster! Too Slick!
GregW

I prefer the roof line of the Coupe and in the old sketches. The Clubman roof shape seems odd with the ridges either side. Apart from the Clubdoor debarcle, I like the car and the concept.

Two make a Speedster/Roadster, all you need do is get a convertible and remove the softop and mechanisim. A custom hotrod guy could make a tonneau-type cover to fit over the back seat area.

Most English convertible sports cars had a hard top option – even Z3 had this option.
joe

if the speedster came out today, id be at the dealer with a deposit in hand waiting for them to open the doors tomorrow. if they want to spread their wings with an SUV they need to add a speedster.
SFRedMCc

Except for the “contrasting trim color” at the rear, I’m pretty happy with most of the design features of my all-red Clubman w/ the black rear trim. I always thought the wrap-around glass “greenhouse” was one of the best design features of the MINI, and I can’t figure out in the “development” of the Clubman’s design where this silver or black trim came into play. In silver the design really looks clunky. At least the black keeps the look of the wrap around glass, although the rear end still looks a little “chopped off” to me. My MINI salesman said he thinks they just did it so the Clubman would really stand out from the Coupe, but that seems like a pretty lame reason to me. Plus I am one tose that really likes the barn doors since you usually only need to open one anyway, and that seems much easier than lifting up the larger hatch all the time.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=548320534 Christian L.

I actually liked the speedster design though I won’t be able to bring any friends… oh well at least if that existed I can enjoy it all by myself.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1361606610 Lance Montgomery

The first design sketch works for me….

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R50: One & MC Hatch
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R55: Clubman
R56: Hatch
R57: Convertible
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F55: Clubman
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